Friday, June 25, 2010

MINISTER OPENS HABAKKUK – MTHABISI EXHIBITION
By Khumbulani Maphosa (Media and Publications Officer)

The new Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals, Honourable Gorden Moyo yesterday officially opened Voices in Colour, a visual arts exhibition by a resident artist Mthabisi Phili.Voices in Colour is an annual exhibition which began last year and is this year running under the theme Blue Pencil.

Addressing at least 130 guests who braved the chilly weather and sacrificed the World Cup matches to have a feel of Phili’s artistic expression, the Minister applauded the work outlining that he was able to visualize the entire spectrum of our country through the art as soon as he walked into the exhibition hall.
‘Art transforms this world, it transforms our communities and it also transforms our societies,’ said the Minister as he commended Habakkuk Trust for getting into such a partnership with Mthabisi.

Mthabisi Phili took had the opportunity not only to expresses his profound gratitude for the support received from various partners who made his exhibition a success but also took the time to explain what inspired the Voices in Colour Annual exhibition and the theme ‘Blue pencil’, which refers to censorship.

The Habakkuk Trust Chief Executive Officer took time to explain to the delegates why the organisation had partnered with the artist in this year’s edition of Voices in Colour. ‘Habakkuk Trust is an organisation that exists to give a voice to the voiceless. Voices in Colour is an artistic voice that is used by Mthabisi to depict the social, economic, political and human rights in a creative and intriguing manner.’
Nkomo further told the delegates that Habakkuk Trust would be conducting a series of public lectures on the key issues depicted on Phili’s pieces. ‘As part of the exhibition there will be public lectures on the role of youths in civic participation, the role of ex-combatants in peace building, the role of the church in nation building and the role of civic society in nation building.’

This Saturday, the 26th of June 2010 there will be a ‘Walk About’ from 1000 to 1200 hours where the artist will take time to explain in detail the inspiration behind his work. The exhibition will run up to the 24th of July.

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